Collecting Latex from a Rubber

Tree

Natural rubber production begins with the collection of latex, a milky white substance produced by the cells of

several plants. Through an initial cut and selective removal of bark, a rubber tree will yield approximately

1.8 kg (about 4 lb) of dry crude rubber annually.

Rubber Production

Producing rubber involves several stages. Workers on a plantation begin by drawing latex from trees in a method called tapping. Once the milky liquid latex is tapped and

collected, it is placed in a treatment tank where the liquid will begin to gel, or coagulate, into a more solid form. Then, in a roller mill, the gel is pressed into sheets called crepe. Finally, the rubber is smoked, dried, and baled for shipping

to manufacturers.

Natural Fiber

Spider

MDF

Bakelite( 최초의 플라스틱 )

Plastics

Liquid Crystal

Nematic structure

Figure 1. Nematic structure with the director indicated by an arrow

Figure 2. Polarized photomicrograph : Schlieren texture

Figure 3. Polarized photomicrograph : Schlieren texture

Smectic structure

Figure 1. Smectic A (left), smectic C (right)

Figure 2. Smectic : focal-conic fan texture

Adhesives